Liquid level indicator



March 28, 1944 E. A. KoREvEc LIQUID LEVEL INDICATR Filed July 18, 1942 011/711 a will *27506792571- Marc-Mreuec 1 Patented Mar. 28, 1944 LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR Edward AsKorevec, Joliet, Ill., assigner of onehalf to Leo M. Herkert, Joliet, Ill.

Application July 18, 1942, Serial No. 451,487 4 claims. (ci. vs -321) reading tape being provided with large legible markings and never entering the tank or fluid being measured.

Another object of the invention is the production of such an indicator which is very smooth and positive in operation, resulting in direct accurate readings.

A further object of the invention is the production of such an indicator which is relatively unaiected by temperature changes.

A further object is the production of a novel iloat construction which eliminates the necessity of float anchorage and has a. relatively large' displacement power,

Many other objects and advantages of th construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination oi parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an indicating device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the novel float construction taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the float; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 illustrating the indicating means.

In the past there have been numerous types of tape indicators, some of which were direct reading, that is, the tape itself was graduated so that a reading could be taken directly from the tape. This tape extended into the tank and was connected at the end therein to a oat, and at the opposite end to a suitable counterpoise. As substantially the entire tape entered the tank, the tape was subjected to vapors, etc., which in the case of certain liquids, would have a corro- In the present construction, two tapes are emg ployed, one the reading tape which is in the form of an endless loop positioned outside oi the tank or other container, and the other the driver tape; one end of which is secured to the reading tape and the other end of which is positioned in the tank and connected to a suitable float or the like. Thus the graduated reading tape never enters the tank, and consequently is not under the constant action of corrosive vapors,

etc. I

Referring to the drawing, I' represents a vertical tubular column and 2 a second tubular column extending parallel to the column I, the column 2 being divided into two sections 3 and 4 joined by a suitable connecting member 5. The columns I and 2 are connected at their upper and lower ends by housings 6 and 1,-respectively. Carried by the housing 6 is a tape wheel 8, the latter being supported on a suitable spindle 9 or the like with the tape wheel preferably mounted on ball bearings or other antifriction means. Carried by the tape wheel 6 is a reading tape II having graduations I2 thereon as indicated in Fig. 2, the tape II being suitably constructed to form an endless loop positioned in the respective housings and columns. The lower end of the loop, positioned in the housing 1, passes around a tape wheel I3, similar to the tape wheel 8, which is journaled in a iloating standard I4, the wheel I3 and standard I4 being suspended by the tape II, so that the tape is tensioned by the wheel I3 and the standard I4.

Also positioned in the tubular column I is a driver tape I5 which is secured to the tape II by a counterweight IB, the tapes being clamped to the counterweight byl set screws Il or other suitable means. The tape I5 extends up into the housing 6, passing over a tape wheel IB similar to the tape wheels 8 and I3, thence through a connecting pipe or tubeIiI into an elbow housing 2| and over a tape wheel 22 journaled therein. The housing 2| is connected to the tank through a coupling pipe or tube 23, threaded at one end into the housing 2i, with'the other end extending into the tank 24 and secured thereto by suitable collars 25, the end of the pipe 23 being pro vided with' a cap 26 having a slot 2l therein through which the tape I5 extends. The pipe 23 is preferably iilled with a suitable felt material which acts as a wiper element to remove mois-- parent material 32, through which a portion of:

the tape is visible, the transparent member 32y being held in position by a suitable plate member 33 secured by screws or the like to the member 5.

In operation, as the-float 29 falls, the tape I5 will be moved in a direction to draw the counterweight I6 upward, thereby simultaneously moving the reading tape I-I over the tape wheelsk 8 and I3, and by reading the tape through the window 3 I, an accurate indication of the amount of liquid in the tank may be readily determined. It will be noted that the direction ofv movement of the reading tape II past thewindow 3| is the same as the direction of movement ofthe tioat 29 thus tending to preclude errors in reading the tape to determine whether iioat is rising or falling. The free end 28 o! the tape I5 as hereinafter described is connected to a float indicated generally by the numeral 29, which is adapted to float uponl the surface of the liquid, rising and falling therewith.

Obviously, the tape I I may be graduated in any suitable units. To faciutate the reading of the tape, an indicating pointer 3,4 is provided, the lat ter taking the form of a generally rectangular shaped spring element which is flexed as indicated at 35, so that the corners 36'of the element will frictionally engage the inside corners of the connecting member thus securely holding the pointer 34 in proper position. This construction readily permits manual adjustment of the pointer 34 wheny required, and eliminates the necessity of an anchor hole for the pointer in the connecting member 5 and danger of vapor leakage.

As illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the tubular column I, in the present instance, is secured to the housing 6 by means of a reduction collar 4I and nipple 42, the lower end ofthe column I and the lower end of the pipe 4 being secured to the housing 1 by suitable packing glands'indicated genf erally by the` numerals- 43 and 44, respectively; The housings 6 and 2I- are each provided with a cover plate 45 and 4B, respectively, which permits access to the interior of` the housings, `while the housing 1 is provided withy cover plates 4l and 48 for the same purpose.

'I'he float 29 comprises a supporting member II to which is secured aneye-bolt l2, the supporting member 5| being builtup of two-cylindrical blocks 5I connected by a sleeve member of less diameter than the blocks II", the eye-bolt Bland nut 52' successively maintaining the sleevey `and blocks in assembly relation. Rotatably carried by the supporting member II is atubular member 54 having bolts 55 radially extending therefrom with respect to theaxis of rotationy ofthe member 54, the heads 56 of thev bolts 5I being positioned.`

`driver tape I5 and the oat 29, the weight o! counterweight $0, being substantially the same as counterweight I6. This will keep the driver tape I5 taut at all times independently of the weight I have also shown a counterweight 60 oi' the float and due to its inherent inertia will tend to reduce or oppose any tendency of the tape to twist because of possible float rotation due to liquid surge. The swivel 6I likewise tends to reduce the tendency of any float rotation twisting the tape. Due to the novel arrangement of the assembly and construction of the iioat 29 any possibility of twisting of the tape I5 is eliminated, and the spherical construction of the ilcat members 58 eliminates wandering of the float from true vertical travel, as a result of the substantial elimination of so called bottom drag, generally found in other iioats.

It Will be noted that due to the double or dual tape construction in conjunction with the floating tape wheel I3, temperature changes resulting in expa ion or contraction of the tapes will have substantially no eilect upon the accuracy of the readings, this being due to the fact that both tapes will expand or contract simultaneously, with the weighted standard I4 maintaining the reading tape taut at all times. In contrast to this is a prior single tape construction wherein expansion and contraction of the tape will result in denite inaccuracies in the readings.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have produced a novel indicator construction which is positive in action and wherein the reading tape does not enter the tank or the container, and smooth positive action is achieved resulting in accurate, dependable readings.

It will also be noted that I have provided a novel float construction wherein anchorage of the float is eliminated and wherein the iioat is at all times free to rotate with respectto the tape.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form.

. construction, arrangement and combination of less graduated reading tape parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an indicating device, the combination of a pair of parallel substantially vertical tubular members connected at each of their respective ends by a housing member, the upper housing member having a pair of tape Wheels, an endpassing over one of said wheels and through said tubular members and lower housing, one of said members having a transparent portion through which the graduations on said tape are visible, a tape wheel positioned in said lower housing and supported by the reading tape, a weight member carried by the last mentioned tape wheel for added tensioning of said tape, a driver tape passing over said second tape wheel andy then downwardly adjacent a portion of said reading tape and secured thereto, a counterwelght carried by said portion of the reading tape, an elbow housing laterally spaced from said upper housing, a tape wheel rotatably mounted therein, tubular means connecting said elbow housing with said upper housing and with a fluid container, said driver tape extending from said second tape wheel through said tubular means and over the tape wheel in said elbow housing into said container, and a iioat in said container secured to the adjacent end oi said driver tape.

2. In a liquid level indicating device of the kind described for containers, the combination of an endless graduated reading tape. a pair of spaced tape wheels between which said tape extends, a housing for said tape having a window therein through which a portion of the graduations on said tape are visible, a driver tape passing over a tape wheel positioned adjacent; one of 'said `irst mentioned tape wheels and connected at one end to said reading tape, with the adjacent portionextending substantially parallel to said reading tape, the opposite end of the driver tape extending into said container, oat means and counterweightmeans secured adjacent to one end of the driver tape, and a counterweight secured to the other end of the driver tape and to the reading tape for actuating said tapes.

3. Ina device of the kind described for indicating liquid levels in tanks and in combination, an endless reading tape and means for movably supporting the same', a driver tape connected to the reading tape and of a length to extend into said tank, supporting means for said driver tape, a weighted tensioning means for said reading tape, said tape supporting means being so disposed the other end of the driving tape, a float member and swivel arranged on the other end of said driver tape, the counterweight and swivel being interposed between the float and tape.

4. In an indicating device the combination of a pair of vertical tubular members, one of which has a transparent portion therein, housing members, one connecting the upper ends of said tubular members and one connecting the lower ends thereof, a tape wheel journalled in the upper housing, an endless reading tape trained over said tape Wheel, a suspended weighted tape wheel carried by said endless reading tape and functioning to tension the same, a pair of driver tape wheels EDWARD A. KOREVEC. 

